PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University women's volleyball team set up a crosstown showdown for a trip to the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night with a 3-1 victory over SUNY Brockport in the Empire 8 Conference semifinals at Manning and Napier Varsity Gym.
The Cardinals (20-8) will face rival Nazareth (17-13) at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Kidera Gymnasium in the Empire 8 final. It will mark the fourth meeting between the programs in the conference title match.
The Cardinals have won four of the last five Empire 8 title matches, and three of those victories came over Nazareth (2019, 2020-21 and 2021). They beat Hartwick 3-1 in their last appearance in the E8 final (2022).
St. John Fisher has won eight matches in a row since losing to Nazareth at home on Oct. 23. The Golden Flyers were one of two Empire 8 teams (Brockport being the other) to beat the Cardinals during the regular season.
Match Notes: St. John Fisher 3, Brockport 1
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The Cardinals punched their ticket to the Empire 8 Conference title match for the fifth time in program history.
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The Cardinals avenged a 3-1 regular-season loss to Brockport with their win on Thursday in the semifinals.
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The Cardinals won the first set 25-22 and the second 25-16. They dropped the third set 25-21 before finishing the Golden Eagles off in the fourth set, 25-18.
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The Cardinals had 53 kills to Brockport's 31 in the match.
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Sophomore outside hitter Kaylene Noble recorded a season-high 19 kills.
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Sophomore middle blocker Ana Gutman had 13 kills and hit .478.
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Gutman, a first-team All-Empire 8 selection, has hit .400 or better in 14 of Fisher's 28 matches this season. She leads the Empire 8 in hitting percentage (.393).
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Junior setter Reilly Morrow had a match-high 45 assists. She has had 40 or more assists in seven matches this season.
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Junior libero Kiera Hartpence recorded a match-high 16 digs.
Up Next
The Cardinals face Nazareth at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Kidera Gymnasium.
